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271


Samantha’s voice trembled with emotion as she knelt before Beta Craig, her eyes brimming with desperation. "Father, I beg you, let me keep this baby! If I lose him, I might never have another chance to be a mother for the rest of my life!" Her words carried a sense of hopelessness, as though she was pleading for her very future. 

Beta Craig sighed heavily, frustration evident in his voice. "Samantha, it’s not that I want to take this child away from you, but… this situation is complicated." He trailed off, clearly struggling to find the right words. If the baby had been anyone else’s, he might have allowed Samantha to keep it. But this child belonged to Alpha Xavier, and that made things infinitely more difficult. Xavier was already trying to earn Bella’s forgiveness, and now this situation would only drive a deeper wedge between them. How could Beta Craig ever face Bella with this looming over their family?

Pamela knelt beside Samantha and gently wiped the tears from her daughter’s face. "My dear child," she said softly, "sometimes we have no choice in life but to accept what it throws at us." Her voice was calm, but there was an edge of sadness as she tried to console Samantha. 

Samantha shook her head, her voice rising with anguish. "Father, denying a woman the right to be a mother is the cruelest thing you could do! I didn’t choose this! I was set up and betrayed—it’s not my fault. How can you punish me for something I didn’t do?" Her words were raw with pain, and her plea came from a place of genuine despair. If Beta Craig forced her to lose the baby, her life would be ruined. There would be no hope left for her. Alpha Xavier would never accept her, and she would never experience the joy of being a mother. It was too much for her to bear.

Samantha looked up at her father with tear-streaked eyes, her voice trembling as she continued. "I know you’re worried about upsetting Bella and Xavier. I promise, I won’t cause them any trouble. I’ll leave—I’ll go far away. You’ve been urging me to study abroad, haven’t you? I’ll leave immediately and never come back. Just let me keep my baby!" Her words came out in a rush, her desperation apparent in every syllable.

Beta Craig stared at his daughter, his expression conflicted. He could see the pain in her eyes, and it unsettled him. After a long pause, he finally reached out, helping her to her feet. "Get up," he said gruffly. "We’ll discuss this further when we get home." His tone was firm, but there was a hint of resignation in his voice. 

Pamela and Samantha exchanged a glance, relief washing over them. It wasn’t a complete victory, but it was a step in the right direction. Pamela helped Samantha stand, and together they followed Beta Craig out of the hospital. On the drive back to the pack, Beta Craig leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes and remaining silent. He didn’t say a single word during the entire journey. 

Pamela and Samantha also kept quiet, finally allowing themselves to relax. They had gambled on Beta Craig’s soft heart, and they had been right. In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to destroy his own grandchild. As they say, even wolves don’t harm their own. Pamela and Samantha had played their cards well, and for now, they had won.

After several hours of driving, they finally arrived back at the pack. The car came to a halt outside the grand castle, and Beta Craig stepped out, his face unreadable. Pamela and Samantha followed him closely, their expressions cautious as they prepared for the next part of the conversation. 

Once inside, Beta Craig walked straight to his study, gesturing for Pamela and Samantha to join him. He closed the door behind them and turned to face them with a serious expression. "I’ve thought about this during the drive," he began, his voice steady. "Since this has already happened, we need to deal with it carefully. Bella and Alpha Xavier don’t know about the situation yet, and we need to keep it that way. To protect everyone involved, Samantha, you must leave immediately. Go abroad, give birth to your child there, and don’t come back unless circumstances change."

Samantha nodded obediently, her tone calm as she replied, "I’ll do as you say, Father." Outwardly, she appeared compliant, but inwardly, her thoughts were racing. She had no intention of leaving permanently. The idea of going abroad was laughable—how could she possibly reveal her pregnancy to Bella from so far away? Staying closer to the pack would ensure that her presence continued to create problems for Bella and Xavier. 

Beta Craig narrowed his eyes as if sensing her thoughts. "Let me make one thing clear," he said sternly. "I’m only allowing you to keep this baby because of your health. Don’t think for a second that this is a chance for you to manipulate the situation. Alpha Xavier is far beyond your reach, Samantha. Don’t delude yourself."

Samantha forced a smile, her voice steady. "Of course, Father. I have no intentions toward him anymore." Her words sounded convincing, but they were far from the truth. 

Beta Craig’s gaze hardened. "Good. Because if I find out that you’ve leaked this information to Bella or caused trouble for her and Xavier, I will not forgive you. Do you understand me?" His tone was cold and final, leaving no room for argument. 

Pamela and Samantha quickly nodded, eagerly assuring him that they would keep the pregnancy a secret. Aunt Maleah soon arrived to serve dinner, inviting them to join her. Beta Craig, Pamela, and Samantha sat down to eat, the room heavy with tension. They ate in near silence, each lost in their own thoughts. 

After the meal, Beta Craig retreated to his study, while Aunt Maleah began cleaning up the dining area. Samantha, claiming exhaustion, excused herself and went upstairs to her room. Pamela, however, wasn’t ready to rest. She prepared a cup of tea for Beta Craig and brought it to him before slipping away to check on Samantha. 

Inside Samantha’s room, mother and daughter spoke in hushed voices. "Mom," Samantha whispered, her voice low, "what do we do now? Father said he’d let me keep the baby, but he’s watching us too closely. How can we tell Bella?"

Pamela’s eyes narrowed as a sly smile crossed her face. "We don’t need to tell her directly," she said. "We’ll let someone else do it for us." 

"Who?" Samantha asked, her brow furrowing in confusion. 

"Aunt Maleah," Pamela replied confidently. "She’s overly fond of Bella. If you act sick in front of her, she’ll start putting the pieces together. Once she figures it out, she’ll tell Bella herself."

Samantha’s eyes lit up with understanding. "That’s a brilliant idea!" she said, her voice filled with excitement. 

While Pamela and Samantha schemed upstairs, Beta Craig was busy in his study. He had summoned Aunt Maleah and shared the truth about Samantha’s pregnancy, warning her to keep it a secret. "You must not let Bella find out," he said firmly. "If she learns the truth, she’ll never forgive Alpha Xavier."

Aunt Maleah nodded, her face calm. "I understand, sir. I won’t say a word to Bella," she promised. But deep inside, Aunt Maleah’s mind was racing. She despised Pamela and Samantha for the pain they had caused Bella, and she silently vowed to ensure that the child in Samantha’s womb would never see the light of day.